| November 19, 2003 | Wednesday | Ramazan 23, 1424 |
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Afghan FM’s allegation
High-handedness of authorities
Artists and the war on Iraq
Auto dealers and buyers
Ban on polythene bags
Illegal cutting of trees
Salaries of MNAs
Military uniform
Mobile user’s complaint
KIA car scam victims
‘Cross-LoC’ intrusions
Silence is golden
THIS refers to Mr Tariq Waqar’s letter “Streamlining CPSP working” (Nov 11).
Regarding purchase of branded PCs, distribution of software packages among the participants of workshops, the facts are as under:
Knowledge of basics of computers and application of software is vital to research and report-writing by medical professionals. Similarly, for lack of research facilities and tools, such as Internet access, the students are deprived of the opportunity to remain abreast with the latest developments in the medical sciences. To cope with the situation, the CPSP is converging from conventional medical education to IT-based medical education. This initiative will benefit all from doctors to the common man.
Acquiring branded computers is a part of a mega project of the CPSP titled ‘Convergence to IT-based medical education’. The project aims at acquiring information technology to update our academic and research facilities. The CPSP has acquired the latest and most reliable computer equipment and licensed software for the benefits of medical students, postgraduate trainees, doctors, CPSP fellows and researchers. Using the latest available technology, it is developing an integrated management information system, laying the foundation of a countrywide network capable of serving local requirements and an ability to communicate with each other, providing Internet facilities and establishing digital libraries at all its regional centres.
The CPSP is also in the process of upgrading its learning facilities to provide the latest knowledge to its trainees. These facilities include computerizing its library with digital features, which have 5,000 dissertations written by FCPS-II trainees, learning resource facilities including a radiological museum possessing thousands of radiological images, and other reference materials that are collected. Its Internet Access Centres have already been established in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to provide on-line services for accessing the latest material available, including its downloading. Such centres are also being established in Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad.
The aims of such programmes is to provide an easy access to information highways which have unlimited knowledge in every field, including medical sciences, and is available at a very economical cost. This also facilitates promotion of postgraduate medical education in the country which is the prime objective of the CPSP under charter.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan was established in 1962 under an Act of parliament and granted a charter under the seal of the then President of Pakistan. It has well-established rules, regulations and bye-laws that govern its functioning vis-a-vis terms and conditions of employment, recruitment and other human resource related matters and policies.
M. IMTIAZ ALI
Karachi
WHAT Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah had to say about Pakistan in an interview with your correspondent in the US was unfortunate. It is even more unfortunate that he has forgotten the period from 1989 till the advent of President Karzai’s government.
It was a tragic story of a ruthless power struggle to gain ascendancy between the various factions in Afghanistan. Perhaps the foreign minister is still under the influence of the fall of Herat to the Taliban in 1995 when his party leader sought help from Iran, Russia and India on the basis that Pakistan was helping the Taliban, whereas all that we were interested in was the opening of a route to Central Asia.
The Taliban movement started in Kandahar and was a Pashtun movement. Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is an Afghan Pashtun. The recent Taliban resurgence and Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s activities are the roots of Minister Abdullah’s ire. Today, the government in Kabul faces opposition from these two groups in the provinces of Zabol, Laghman and Kunar where they control certain areas. President Karzai has sought help of the Pakistani Pashtuns to help resolve the problems Afghanistan faces with its Pashtun population and they have left for Kabul to help out.
Perhaps the failure of the government to extend their mandate beyond Kabul is more troublesome than anything else. Riding into Kabul on the back of the American troops is one thing but controlling Afghanistan is another. You do not have to look far to see the failure of such a policy. Their own history provides answers.
It is time the minister stopped blaming us for their problems and remember that we are still their brothers and are there to help. This can be seen from the help Pakistan is giving to the Afghan refugee right up to the coalition forces. We do this gladly because we have been a frontline state for the last 24 years because of the Afghan inability to live in peace with each other, be it the Parcham and the Khalq tussle, the Russian invasion or the Taliban phenomenon or trying to pacify an ethic group.
FAZAL HABIB CURMALLY
Karachi
A LETTER by Mr Abdul Saeed Khan Ghori (Nov 1) highlights the arbitrary and high-handed decisions taken by the authorities in charge of the cantonment boards. These actions, or more appropriately non-actions, show the egoistic approach of the bosses concerned.
Nobody disapproves of anything that falls within the purview of the rules and regulations but any action taken by the authorities to simply convey the message of who holds absolute power is outlandish, inappropriate and unethical.
One such action was taken by the authorities in Phase II of Defence Officers Housing Scheme II in Malir Cantonment. On the morning of Oct 21 the cantonment board officials brought monstrous machines and started to uproot driveways, flower beds and green belts developed by the residents, along with anything else they could lay their hands on. This was around 11am when the male members of the families were not present at their homes. The womenfolk did try to persuade them but they were treated in an atrocious manner. The limits of decency were crossed when a corner of the boundary wall of one of the houses was demolished which did not violate the construction rules by even an inch, this was done in spite of the fact that the lady of the house was virtually begging them not to do so.
What surprised the affected residents was that there was no earlier warning or time given to correct any wrong committed intentionally or unintentionally by a resident. The cantonment board officials unabashedly claimed to have the blessings of the station commander, Malir Cantonment.
Being a resident of the area for over 10 years, I have never seen authorities behave so ruthlessly. They appeared to be enjoying the whole exercise with utter disregard to the plight of the residents. It was an action which was totally uncalled-for and senior officials of Malir Cantonment or the corps commander, Karachi, need to investigate into the matter which has brought untold anguish to the peaceful residents of this society.
WG-CDR (RETD) ARIF
MAJEED
Karachi
IT appears that even those connected with the world of art are too afraid to voice their protest against America’s show of military might in Iraq. Recently, the McMaster Museum of Art in Hamilton, Canada, that is affiliated to McMaster University, pulled out of its commitment to host a solo exhibition of cartoons by Shahid Mahmood, an architect and cartoonist who grew up in Karachi and is now living in Canada.
Entitled “Enduring Operation Freedom”, the exhibition of 29 cartoons condemning America’s war in Iraq was arbitrarily cancelled by the museum curator. The cancellation came soon after The Washington Times reported that an Al Qaeda suspect, Adnan El Shukrijumah, was posing as a student at the university, that possesses a five-megawatt nuclear reactor, and was trying to lay his hands on radioactive material. Although the university authorities said that they had no record of such a person, the show that was scheduled for January was cancelled.
According to Mahmood, in a private conversation, the curator told him that she feared for her job and that the current political climate was not right for the museum to hold an exhibition on the theme. She also said that she didn’t want him to be labelled as a terrorist because of his Pakistani connections. The Canadian press was given a different picture, and “time constraints” and “insufficient resources” were cited as the reasons for postponing the show until 2005 — by which time the exhibition could well lose its relevance.
It is regrettable that the world of art and academia should choose to be intimidated by Washington’s dirty war in Iraq. By preferring to play it safe and cancel the exhibition, the museum has done a major disservice to the cause of freedom of expression and to those who are protesting the tragedy in Iraq.
AYESHA AZFAR
Karachi
WITH reference to the news report “Car dealers not giving firm delivery date” (Nov 14) and the letter “Car buyers’ ordeal” by Mr Adnan A. Siddiqui (Nov 16) regarding the late delivery and high prices of cars in Pakistan, I feel that much is being said about the local auto industry without having complete knowledge.
The letter’s content blames the government for supporting the auto industry. However, the news report quotes a source as saying that the premiums on vehicles have gone down. I believe that this is a proof of the fact that the demand of customers is being met. This being the case, complainants are not justified in saying that the auto assemblers are fleecing car buyers.
I most certainly don’t mean to offend anyone, but I feel I should mention that not only are these people being unfairly judgmental of the auto industry, they are also sketching a rather unattractive picture of themselves.
The fact is that our auto industry is working hard at satisfying its clients, and has increased its production. Today, not only have the premiums on vehicles been reduced, the delivery time has also gone down considerably. This is all due to the government’s unpopular stand that it took in favour of the auto industry. What we must realize is that we are wrong in deploring this stand as it is obviously in our favour.
It is time we supported the government, as well as our auto industry, instead of trying to “expose the industry to the international market”.
R. Y. KARIM
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the news report “Polythene bags to be banned” (Nov 12).
According to the report, the Karachi city district government has decided to permanently ban the use of polythene bags from June 30, 2004. It has also decided to promote paper, cloth and thick plastic bags which can be reused.
However, the government has not specified the minimum thickness of polythene that will be allowed to be used. Also, it has not made it clear whether the polythene-coated paper-/cardboard- lined boxes, normally used for packing milk and juices, will also be banned. If these “thick” plastic bags are used for buying fresh liquid milk, how will they be reused?
This problem poses two questions: how to collect used polythene bags and what to do with them? If completely new uses have to be found, the best source of information is the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. Let the city nazim consult the PCSIR in finding a solution to this problem.
R.H. USMANI
Karachi
UNLAWFUL cutting of trees continues unabated in the Ghotki district, but unfortunately no one is ready to stop this illegal activity.
Last year I informed the district naib nazim about the illegal cutting of trees by certain people, but he showed his helplessness, suggesting that the loss could be compensated by planting fresh trees. It is strange that a local government functionary feels so weak that he cannot stop such criminal activities.
A gas company, Mari Gas, is also cutting thousands of trees in the district for laying pipelines to expand its gasfield, but is not planting a single tree to make up for the loss.
I appeal to the Sindh governor to stop this unlawful activity. The only possible way to do so is to put a ban on cutting of all kinds of trees in the province.
MAHRAM ALI SHAR
Ghotki
THIS refers to a news report in your newspaper regarding the recent increase in the salaries of the members of the National Assembly.
In a country where the common man finds it difficult to make both ends meet, giving a 100 per cent raise to the parliamentarians, clearly shows that the leaders of our country care nothing about the poor, whose lives have become quite miserable owing to frequent price hikes.
The parliamentarians should remember that people have elected them so that they legislate such laws as will provide relief to them in terms of jobs and justice. It is a pity that instead of working for the public’s welfare, the MNAs are working for their personal benefits.
MUHAMMAD SALMAN SHAIKH
Karachi
WHENEVER a military dictator has managed to become president of the country in a civilian set-up, he has continued to remain chief of the army staff. The opposition has always demanded that the president should not continue to hold this position, implying thereby that the opposition has no objection to the person concerned becoming president of the country, as long as he ceases to simultaneously remain the army chief.
Without questioning the logic of the demand of the opposition, the president may be advised that only when he is performing duties as chief of the army staff should he wear his army uniform. On all other occasions, when he is performing the civilian duties of the president, he should appear in civilian dress. Unfortunately, this is not being done at present, hence the clamour against the uniform.
A.M. SAYIED
Karachi
ONE could not agree more with the letter by Mr M. Y. Gaznavi (Nov 12) regarding the poor service of Mobilink.
I bought a post-paid connection from Mobilink a few months ago. The first month’s billing came as a surprise because the company had overcharged me. In the second month I found more calls and SMSs on the statement than had actually been made. Angered, I sent a letter to the customer services department but to no avail.
On advice that pre-paid connections are better, I switched over, but the overbilling did not end. I bought another card and learnt that after sending around 40 local SMSs, which should not have cost more than Rs100 to Rs150, the entire Rs300 card had been consumed.
It is strange that for the SMSs, the deductions were not made instantly. Instead the money was deducted after two to three days and even later.
Will someone at Mobilink look into the matter?
ABDUL SALAM DADABHOY
Karachi
THIS is with reference to certain letters from KIA car scam victims appearing in the national press seeking support to recover the plundered amount from the Tawakal group of companies.
It is clarified that cases registered against this group in banking courts have been transferred to accountability courts in Sindh and Punjab. NAB is making efforts to apprehend the absconders and finalize investigations against the directors concerned in order to facilitate payments to KIA victims.
It may be mentioned that the legal process usually takes time in such cases of financial crimes, but the fact remains that NAB is pursuing the matter with a view to achieving a positive outcome.
NATIONAL
ACCOUNTABILITY BUREAU
Islamabad
AN Indian leader, not belonging to the BJP, was reported to have expressed surprise at the BJP government’s focus on spending huge amounts for acquiring more sophisticated weaponry for its military, including aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, knowing full well that war against Pakistan is out of the question.
The latest Indian acquisitions, acquired from Israel, are hand-held thermal images with a range of four kilometres. Indian army officials told Reuters in Jammu that by using them they gunned down 70 militants in Poonch and Rajouri districts in a period of six months. Seventy militants killed in 183 days — which means one every two-and-a-half days. This is proof that Pakistan has done enough to reduce the “cross-LoC incursions” which New Delhi keeps calling “cross-border terrorism”, in the hope to get the LoC declared, by hook or by crook, a part of the international border with Pakistan.
What the world community needs to know is that there is no corresponding reduction of “state terrorism” in occupied Kashmir. Instead, human rights violations have greatly increased as if in imitation of what Israel is doing against the Palestinians, which the Americans are afraid of stopping.
India has one soldier for every three metres of the LoC and has more than 700,000 soldiers in held Kashmir — one for every 12 Kashmiris. The hue and cry of cross-border terrorism by New Delhi is a sad reflection on the professional efficiency of the Indian army. This hue and cry of “cross-border terrorism” has been going on only to use it as a pretext to avoid dialogue for which all major powers are pressing India every now and then. The BJP-led government is avoiding dialogue lest an atmosphere of improved relations will decrease the BJP’s vote bank among the Hindus. After all, secular-minded voters in India are in a majority, taking India as a whole.
World powers need to go on pressing India for the start of a dialogue with Pakistan.
JALAL AHMED
Karachi
“SILENCE feeds 9/11 theories”, so writes The Los Angeles Times (Nov 9). The American leadership knows that it is a lot easier to maintain silence over the matter than to speak out, as it may have few answers to many smart questions, which, in turn, may change the course of the war against terror, not to its liking.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
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